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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 01, 2024 | The Indian Eye 22

The Kerala Center Presens 2024 Annual

Awards in a Glittering Ceremony

OUR BUREAU
Elmont, NY

ndian American Kerala Cultur-
al and Civic Center, Inc. (The
IKerala Center) celebrated its
32nd Annual Awards Dinner at the
Center’s auditorium in Elmont, NY
on Saturday, October 19, 2024. The
Center honored eight individuals
who made notable contributions in
their professions and to the society
with their selfless dedication.
The program started with Amer-
ican and Indian national anthems by
Ms. Riya Alexander. This year’s hon-
orees were: Johnson Samuel (Long
Island, NY), Humanitarian and Social
Service; Suja Thomas (Albany, NY),
Nursing Leadership; Wesley Mathews
(Trenton, NJ), Public Service; Dr. Su-
nanda Nair (Houston, TX), Perform-
ing Arts; Hashim Mooppan (Wash-
ington, DC), Legal Services; Samcy
Kodumon (L.I., NY), Pravasi Malay- Awardees at the Keral Center Awards Banquet., Front Row l. to r.: Hashim Mooppan, Samcy Kodumon, Suja Thomas, Varkey Abraham and
alam Literature; Sibu Nair (Buffalo, Johnson Samuel; Back Row: Sibu Nair, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Ny Senator Kevin Thomas and Wesley Mathews
NY), Community Service; and Varkey
Abraham (Long Island, NY), Busi-
ness Leadership. Chair of the New Jersey-India Com-
The program commenced with in- mission and serves on several boards,
troductory remarks and welcoming of including the New Jersey Innovation
the MC, Daisy Stephen Pallipparam- Institute and the FIFA World Cup 26
bil, by Raju Thomas, General Secre- New York New Jersey Host Commit-
tary of the Kerala Center. Following tee. Mathews was introduced by Dr.
the remarks by the MC, American and Thomas Abraham and Sen. Thomas
Indian National anthems were sung presented the award.
by Riya Alexander. President Alex K. The award for excellence in busi-
Esthappan welcomed everyone and ness leadership went to Varkey Abra-
provided a brief description of the ac- ham, Founding Director of Hanover
tivities and goals of the Kerala Center. Bank U.S.A. He is also the CEO of
New York Senator Kevin Thomas and the A and S Leather Company, V A
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages Smith Shoe Company International,
were the dignitaries present to say fe- Chairman of the Pravasi television
licitations and present awards. They channel, a member of Loka Kerala
were given special recognition awards Sabha (Invitee), a former president of
for their support to the Kerala Center Awardees with elected officials and Kerala Center Board Members and Trustees Indo-American Malayalee Chamber
and larger community. Also present of Commerce and is well known in the
were Ragini Srivastava, North Hemp- South Indian community as a philan-
stead Town Clerk and John Isaac, can- and making aware of our civic duties. presented proclamations honoring the thropist. Abraham was introduced by
didate for NY State Assembly from Sen. Thomas, a prior awardee himself, awardees. Samuel Joseph, Secretary of Kerala
Yonkers. praised the Kerala Center for honor- The award for excellence in public Center Youth Forum, and Sen. Thom-
Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chair- ing individuals who excelled in their service went to Wesley Mathews, Pres- as presented the award.
man of the Trustee Board and Award professions and serving the society ident & Chief Executive Officer of The award for outstanding con-
Committee member explained the with dedication. Assembly woman Choose New Jersey, the State’s lead- tribution to Pravasi Malayalam Liter-
process of selecting the awardees and Solages was so impressed by the cer- ing nonprofit business attraction orga- ature went to Samcy Kodumon, who
introduced keynote speaker and one emony and declared herself a Malay- nization. He was a career diplomat in has published several books of Short
of the awardees, Wesley Mathews. alee for the evening. the U.S. Foreign Service, he served as Stories and Novels. He has been ac-
Mr. Mathews praised Kerala Cen- Sen. Thomas, Assemblywoman a federal executive to the New Jersey tively involved with LANA (Literary
ter’s activities promoting our culture Solages and Town Clerk Srivastava Economic Development Authority, is Continued on next page... >>

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